Apparatus and method for on-line replacement of a running script

• US 6,330,716 B1
• Filed: 11/13/1998
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Oberhauser, Roy T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN BA, HOANG VU A
• Application Number:
  US09/192,081
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 717/11, 209/203, 209/227, 714/4, 714/38, 700/19, 379/265, 379/396
• US Class Current: 717/171
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/656 while running

Abstract

Apparatus and method are provided for accomplishing on-line replacement of a script running in a process. The apparatus and method utilize a script registry that keeps track of the most current script for a particular service. The request for service is presented to the script registry to identify the location of the most current script that provides the requested service. Because this script registry is an internal data structure, it is therefore lightly portable between different operating system machine types. A superscript is further utilized to transfer script state information between execution of the service-providing scripts. This ensures that data information (i.e., execution mode, environment information, and variable data) is passed from a terminating service script to an initializing service script.

Claims

1. A computer apparatus for online script replacement comprising:

a means for providing a request for service;

a means for maintaining a list of a plurality of service-providing scripts, wherein said list maintaining means enables a newer service-providing script that provides said requested service to be added to said list;

a means for determining a current script for providing said requested service from said list of said plurality of service-providing scripts that provide said requested service; and

a means for executing said current script to provide said requested service.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising;

a means for requesting a new current script during the execution of said current script.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said maintaining means further comprises:

a means for providing, an index to said plurality of service-providing, scripts, further including;

a service name; and

a location where the current script for providing said requested service can be found.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a means for preserving state information for said current script.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said maintaining means receives requests for a location of said current script across a network.

6. A method for use in computer system for online script replacement, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a request for service;

maintaining a list of a plurality of service-providing scripts, wherein online script replacement is provided by enabling a newer service-providing script that provides said requested service to be added to said list;

determining a current script for providing said requested service from said list of said plurality of service-providing scripts that provide said requested service; and

executing said current script for providing said requested service.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

requesting a new current script during the execution of said current script.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said maintaining step further comprising the step of:

providing an index of said plurality of service-providing scripts, said index includes a service name and a location where the current script for providing said requested service can be found.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

preserving state information for said current script.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein said maintaining step further comprising the step of:

receiving requests for a location of said current script across a network.

11. An online script replacement apparatus comprising:

logic configured to provide a request for service;

logic configured to maintain a list of a plurality of service-providing scripts, wherein said list maintain logic enables a newer service-providing script that provides said requested service to be added to said list

logic configured to determine a current script for providing said requested service from said list of said plurality of service-providing scripts that provide said requested service; and

logic configured to execute said current script to provide said requested service from said list of a plurality of service-providing script.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

logic configured to request a new current script during the execution of said current script.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said list maintaining logic further comprises:

logic configured to provide an index to said plurality of service-providing scripts, said index logic including a service name, and a location where the current script for providing said requested service can be found.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

logic configured to preserve state information for said current script.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said list maintaining logic further comprises:

logic configured to receive requests for a location of said current script across a network.

16. A computer readable medium having a program, the program for replacing scripts online, comprising:

a means for maintaining a list of a plurality of service-providing scripts, wherein said list maintaining means enables a newer service-providing script that provides said requested service to be added to said list;

a means for determining a current script for providing a requested service from said list of said plurality of service-providing scripts that provide said requested service; and

a means responsive to the means for determining a current script, for executing said current script to provide said requested service.

17. The medium of claim 16, wherein the means for maintaining includes:

a first routine means, responsive to the means for maintaining, for searching an index to said plurality of service-providing scripts, said index including a service name, and a location where the current script for providing said requested service can be found.

18. The medium of claim 16, further comprising:

a second routine means, responsive to the means for executing, for requesting a new current script during, the execution of said current script.

19. The medium of claim 16, further comprising:

a means recorded on the medium for controlling a preservation of state information for said current script.

20. The medium of claim 16, further comprising:

a means for receiving requests for a location of said current script across a network.